Temperature regulator



Aug. 24, H948.

C. D. BRANSON TEHPERATURE nEGULATon Filed June 29, 1945 Patented Aug.24, 1948 I I A AUNITED STATES PATENT,v OFFICE TEMPERATURE REGULATORCharles D. Branson, Knoxville, Tenn., assignox' to Robertshaw-FultonControls Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1945,sei-loi No. 602,225

7 claims. (ol. zas- 1) 1 i 2 This invention relates to temperatureregula- Other objects will appear as the description of tors, and moreparticularly to a temperature reguthe invention proceeds. t latoradapted automatically to control the ow The invention is'capable' ofreceiving a variet of either a heating or a cooling iluid. of the typeof mechanical expressions one of which is illusdisclosed in GieslerPatent N o. 2,353,889, granted 5 trated on the accompanying drawing, butit is to July 18, 1944, for Temperature regulators. be expresslyunderstood that the drawing is for If a single thermostaticallyoperatedvalve is lpurposesof illustration only, and is not to be tocontrol the iiow of either a heating uid or a construed as a definitionof the limits of the incooling uid to maintain a desired temperaturevention, reference being had to the appended condition or range itsoperation in response to claims for that purpose.

the thermostat must be reversed depending upon The drawing shows inelevation land somewhat whether a heating fluid or a cooling fluid isbeing schematically an embodiment of the present incontrolled, i. e., ifthe valve is operating to coni vention, it being expressly understoodthat the trol heating iluid an increase in temperature relationshipshown between the parts of the above the temperature to be maintainedrequires structure connected by tubing has been selected that the valvebe moved toward closed position to merely for convenience ofillustration. decrease the quantity of heating fluid being ad- As shown,the embodiment of the present inmitted to the heat exchanger, whereas ifthe valve vention selected for explanation of the invention iscontrolling a cooling fluid an increase in temconsists of twothermostatically operated valve perature above that which is to bemaintained re- .29 mechanisms so related that one predetermines thequiresa movement of the valve toward open posi direction of flow of themedium under control tion to increase the amount of coolingfiuid'fiowthrough the other. the latter determining the ing to the heatexchanger. quantity of medium flowing to the heat exchanger Experiencehas demonstrated that if the the'r- 25 and including a temperatureresponsive bulb, l mostat for operating the valve that reverses thewhich may be disposed at any'suitable distance iiow of operating uid,and herein called the seand at any suitable location and relationshipwith lector valve, is merely immersed in a well to which respect, to itsvalve mechanism, and means for adthe Operating Huid has accesstheoperation of the justing the operation and response of said valveselector valve may be undesirably sluggish in efmechanism, which alsomay be located at any fecting the desired reversal 0f flld OW When needsuitable distance and at any suitable location and therefor occurs. Itis an object of the present inrelationship with respect to both Saidbulb and vention to provide an improved regulator` of the said valvemechanism WP@ referred t0 wherein the respon-Se 0f the Se- In theembodiment illustrated the thermostatlector valve is more sensitive thanin structures many operatedvaxve mechanism for determining heretoforeproposed. 35

the quantity of medium iiowing to the heat exchanger includes'a bulb' I0connected through any suitable piping, such as a capillary tube il, withan expansible and collapsible chamber or motor ation and consequentleakage that may decrease 40 vessel I2' Bulb lo tube H an@ .vessel l;are nned with any suitable thermosensmve medium, pref- Or eeli upset fgedesiedf aciracy 01 lntrfold erably though not necessarily a liquid Bulbl0 reguaonon eparoe eroro o e. tlectnvalvef ahld the vatlive Ogniimngthe quan' treilbebefiigmslxb sllvzivgtlvlllittliogrilirilfxeyoowo eoperang u i f Another object of this invention is to provide an entam;extending nbs 3 so that it may be sub' immergereweer arehasta..s.s.a.tetaia a sim i e an m rove -cons ruc on a e select.thermostat. p and be sensitively responsive to variations in tem-Another object of this invention is to provide an o Pature tthereadTuel'ldillure if; tny Suit' improved regulator of the type referred tohaving a' e Way 0 One en 0 Sal an a S OPPU- a lsimpliied and improvedconstruction of range Sitem tube H icolueictedin anyuble Wy ti0 se ectormechanism. y a ous ng mem er n commun ca 1on w h a Another object ofthis invention is to provide Passage l5 leading t0 said chamber I2.Housing an improved regulator of the type referred to hevmember I4 has atubular Wall I6, and at its inner ing improved overrun provisions. endit is appropriately flanged and retained .by al Another object of thisinvention is to provide an improved regulator of the type referred towherein proper seating of the valve or valves is assured so as toprevent. cocking under thermostatic operas closed by a closure member39.

nut I1 on a shoulder I8 provided in the casing I3. Chamber I2 has itsouter wall formed by said tubular wall i6 and its inner wall formed byan expansible and collapsible corrugated tubular metal wall or bellows20 having one end suitably secured to a ilange 2i formed on or ilxedlyattached to wall I6 and its opposite end suitably secured to a movableend wall 22. v

End wall 22 is engaged with the stem 23 of a double seating valve member24 adapted to cooperate at one face with a ported seat 25, here shown asformed on a ring 26 suitably secured in the casing, and at its oppositeface with a ported seat 21, here shown as formed on an inner wall of thecasing. Stem 23 carries` in any suitable way adjacent the end of thebellows 23 a spring seat 28 of any suitable construction, and reactingbetween said spring seat 28 and a suitable seat provided on rounded by aperforated tubular member 80 having a head 5I engaged by the head 43 onbellows 4i for a purpose tobe explained. A flange 52 on member 58 isnormally held against member y44 by a coil spring 53 reacting betweensaid flange and the closure member 33. The chamber between the bellows4I and 42 is the thermostat chamber and is charged with a suitablethermosensitive fluid, preferably though not necessarily a liquid. Theoperating iluid controlled by the thermostat is caused to now intointithe casing wall, as by the ring 26, is a coil spring 23 which notonly holds the end of the stem 23 in continuous engagement with themovable wall 22 .of the bellows 28 but also centers and' preventstilting of the stem 23's'o that accurate seating of the valve member 24on its seats 25 and 21 is assured to prevent the leakage that wouldoccur if the valve member cocked in seating.

Casing I9 is Provided interiorly and in any suitable way with passages30 and 3l leading to the valve seats 25 and 21 respectively and adaptedto be placed in communication through the valve ports with an outletpassage 32 leading to any suitable heat exchanger disposed at anysuitable distance and location and relationship with respect to thecasing I9.

The determination as to whether the Vmedium under control shall ilowthrough the passages 38 or 3l is effected by a second. thermostaticallycontrolled selector valve' mechanism including a double seating valvemember 33 cooperating 'with opposed ported valve seats 34 and 35the4former being shown .as formed on an inner wall of the casing i9 and thelatter being shown as formed on'a ring 35 secured in the casing I9 inany suitable Way. The port in seat 34 is in corn-` munication with thepassages 30, and the port in seat 35 is in communication with thepassages l The thermostat for operating said valve member 33 is mountedin a chamber 31 formed in a tubular extension 38 of thecasing I9 andshown Said thermostat 46 comprises an outer corrugated tubular metalwall or bellows 4I of relatively stiff construction, but yieldable toexpand and contract under conditions hereinafter explained, and an innerexpansible and collapsible corrugated tubular metal wall or bellows 42which is more easily flexed than bellows 4I.

flanged member 44. Bellows 421 has one end suitably attached to theinner periphery of said member 44 and its opposite end suitably attachedto an end member 45 which engages the stem -46 of valve member 33, Stem46 carries in any suitable way adjacent the end of bellows 42 a ableseat formed on the casing wall, as by the ring 36, is a coil spring 48which holds the end ot the stem 46 in engagement with member 45 and alsoprevents cooking of 'the valve member 33 as above explained. Flangedmember 44 is mate contact with the thermostat 40, and to this end theinlet conduit 54 communicates, preferably through a screen 55, with apassage 56 leading to the chamber 31 at or adjacent one end thereof,said fluid leaving said chamber through a passage 51 communicating withchamber 31 at or adjacent the opposite end thereof. Passage 51 leads tothe chamber 58 in which the valve member 33 is disposed to cooperatewith the ports 34 and 35.

The ilrstdescribed thermostatically operated valve 24 is preferablyprovided with adjustable means to predetermine the range of temperatureto be maintained thereby and' which means may also contain provisionsfor preventing injury to the parts in the event that the thermostat ofvalve 24 continues to expand after said valve becomes seated. As shown,the passage I 5 in housing member I4 communicates through a suitablepassage, as the capillary tube 59, with a passage 60 in a block 6Isuitably attached to the housing 62 of a range selector mechanism whichmay be disposed at any suitable distance from and 'in any suitablelocation and relationship to the casing I9. Passage communicates with achamber 63 dened by a tubular member 64 suitably attached to said blockand an expansible and collapsible corrugated metal wallv or bellowshaving one end suitably attached to member 64 and itsopposite end closedby an end wall 66. Interiorly of bellows 65 is a post 61 in engagementwith said end wall-66 and mounted on an outer tubular member 68. At itsopposite end, member 68 is outwardly anged at 69 for engagement with theinwardly directed ilange 10 of a third tubular member 80 surroundingmembers 64 and 68, vA coil spring 1i reacts between the flange 69 andthe closed end 12 of member 88 to Bellows 4i has n. one extremitysuitably attached to a head 43 and its opposite end suitably attached toan annular spring seat 41 of any suitable construction, and l reactingbetween said spring seat 41 and a suithold flanges-69 and 10 normally inengagement. `End wall 12 is engaged' by an axially movable post 13suitably 6 held against rotation at 14 but threadedly engaged; at 15with the inwardly extending shank'16 having an extension 19 securedthereto in any suitable way and received in the bore of a rotatablecontrol knob 11, s0 that rotatable movement of said knob effects axialmovement of post 13. Knob 11 may have a pointer 18 cooperating with anysuitable indicia on plate 8i.

In operation, and assuming that the bulb I0 is suitably mounted so as tobe responsive to variations in temperature in the room or othercompartment in which the temperature is to be controlled, and further,assuming that a source of heating medium flows through passage 51 to theheld against a seat 49, with or without interchamber 58 containing thevalve member 33. The heating mediumV in chamber 31 maintains liowthrough port 35 to passages 3l and port 21. Valve member 24 as shownl isin contact with its seat 21, preventing v:ilow of the heating medium tothe outlet passage 32 andithence to the heatexchanger, which is thepositionassumed by the parts when the temperature in the room orothercompartment has reached the maximum desired temperature. If thetemperature `in said room or other compartment decreases the liquid inbulb I responds to the decreasing temperature and by contraction permitscontraction of the expansible and collapsible chamber I2. Valve vthepassages 30 to valve seat 25ybut permitting ,l

member 24 is thereby moved from its seat 21 by the spring 23 so thatheating medium may ilow past the seat 21 to the outlet32. Valve 24 willmove away from its seat 21 until the quantity of heating medium suppliedto the heat exchangerestablishes the desired temperature. Ii thetemperature increases the liquid in bulb I0 expands and expands chamberI2 to move valve member 24 back toward its `seat 21, ultimately engagingsaid seat and discontinuing the iiow of heating medium if the maximumdesired temperature is again reached. It will be noted that the valvemember 24 in this relationship of the parts moves toward its seat 21 todecrease heating medium tlow as the temperature rises, and moves awayfrom the seat to increase heating medium ow as the temperaturedecreases, as is proper for the control of a heating medium.

Now assume that the inlet passage 54 is placed in communication with asource Aof cooling medium, 'The cooling medium ilowing through thechamber 31 causes a contraction of the thermostat 40, moving the valvemember 33 into contact seat 34 leading to passages 30 and valve seat 25.

` Under these conditions the valve member 24, in

its position as shown in the drawing, would permit maximum ilow of thecooling medium past seat 25 to the outlet passage 32. -As thetemperature in the room or compartment containing the bulb I0 decreasesthe liquid in bulb I0 contracts', eiecting a contraction of chamber I2and thereby moving valve member 24 toward its seat 25 to decrease theflow of cooling medium until the valve member assumes that position atwhich the vdesired temperature is maintained. If the temperature in theroom or other compartment continues to decrease, valvemember 24 willultimately engage seat 25 and cut ofi the flow of cooling medium. If thetemperature in the room or other compartment rises, the liquid in bulbI0 expands, expanding chamber l2 and moving valve member 24 off its seat25. In this relationship of the parts it will be observed that the valvemember 24 is moved away fromits seat 25 to increase the ilow of coolingmedium upon increase in temperature at the bulb I0, and is moved towardits seat to decrease the flow of cooling medium on decrease oftemperature at the bulb I0, as is proper when the thermostaticallyoperated valve is controlling the iiow of a cooling medium.

The range of temperature to be maintained may be nicely predetermined byoperation of the knob 11, the rotation of which in one direction lor theother produces axial movement of post 13 in one direction or the other.Assuming downward movement of post 13 as viewed in the drawing, tubularmember 80 is moved downwardly, and as ilanges 69 and 10 are heldtogether as a unit by vseat 21, 'Thereby ilow through port 21 isdiscontinued at a lower temperature when heating medium is 4undercontrol or ilow through the port is discontinued at a lower temperaturewhen cooling medium is under control. Expansion oi' o chamber 83 by areverse movement of post 13 will obviously produce reverse effects atvalve member 24.

If theliquid in bulb I3 should continue to expand ai'ter valve member 24has engaged its seat -2-1, the expanding iluid may now into chamber 33to expand the same by contracting bellows 36.

The movable end wall 33 oi said bellows, acting through pOSt 31. cannowmove. tubular member 38. uiting its liange 33 on o! ange 1o against thetension o! 'spring 1I. As soon as the force producing this overrun isremoved, spring 1I restores the parts to their relationship for normalOperation.

The bellows 4I constituting the outer wall of I 'thermostat 40 is lessflexible than the bellows 42 constituting its inner wall as beforepointed out. Hence under normal conditions oi' operation.

wherein said thermostat is sensitively responsive to the temperature ofthe operating medium owing into direct contact with its'outer wall andover a major extent thereof in an axial direction, expansion of the uidin the chamber interiorly of bellows 4I produces contraction of bellows42 and movement of valve member 33 upwardly as viewed in the drawing.Ii' the fluid in the thermostat 40 continues to expand after valvemember 33 engages its seat 34, however, bellows 4I may expanddownwardly, moving end wall 5I of tubuthe spring 53.

lar member downwardly against the tension oi When theforce producingthis overrun is removed the spring 53 "restores the parts to theirposition for normal operation.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention an improvedtemperature regulator has lbeen provided whereby the valve .mechanismvfor predetermining the' flow of either a heating or a cooling mediummay be properly conditioned so as to move in proper .direction withrespect to its seat depending upon which medium is to 'be controlled,and this is effected automatically when the medium is introduced intothe system. The valve mechanism so provided varies its positionprogressively to adjust the flow to maintain the desired' temperaturewithout the disadvantages incident to a valve operation wherein the ovalve moves from wide open to fully closed position. or vice versa.lMoreover means have been provided whereby the temperature to bemaintained may be nicely predetermined by readily operable adjustingmechanism. The regulator furthermore assures that increase intemperature after a valve member has engaged its seat shall not beproductive of destructive pressures within the regulator. The regulatoris also so constructed that cocking of the valve members and consequentleakage is eilectively prevented. The regulator is relatively simple inconstruction, easy to install and adjust, inexpensive to produce, andhighly eilcient in operation.

While the embodiment of the invention lllustratedv on the drawing hasbeen described with considerable particularity it is to be expresslyunderstood that the invention is not restricted thereto. as the same maytake a variety of mechanical expressions, Asome of which will now greadily suggest themselves to those skilled ln the art, while changesmay be made in the details with a casing, a valve member therein, meansin said casing providing a pair of valve ports with which said member isadapted to cooperate and a thermostat subjected to the temperature to becontrolled and operatively connected to said valve member, said casinghaving passages leading to the respective valve ports, a valve in saideasing for predetermining whether the medium to be controlled shall iiowthrough one or the other of said passages, a thermostat operativelyconnected to said last named valve, said casing including vmeansproviding a chamber in which said last named thermostat is disposed, andsaid 'casing having passages for conveying the medium to be controlledinto and out lof said chamberon its way to said last named valve..

2. In a temperature regulator for controlling the iiow of either acooling medium or a heating medium to a heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing, a valve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said member is adapted to cooperate and athermostat subjected to the temperature to be controlled and operativelyconnected to said valve member, said casing having passages leading tothe respective valve ports, a valve in said .casing for predeterminingwhether th'e medium to be' controlled shall flow through one or theother of said passages, a thermostat operatively connected to said lastnamed valve, said casing including means providing a chamber in whichsaid last named thermostat is disposed, said casing having an inletpassage for the medium to be controlled in communication with saidchamber adjacent one end thereof and a passage leading to said lastnamed valve and in communication with said chamber adjacent the oppositeend thereof.

3. In a temperature regulator for controlling the iiow of either acooling medium or a heating medium to a. heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing, a valve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said member is adapted to cooperate and athermostat subjected to the temperature to be controlled and operativelyconnected to said valve member, said casing having passages leading tothe respective valve ports, a valve for predetere mining whether themedium to be controlled shall flow through one or the other of saidpassages.'

a thermostat operatively connected to said last named valve, said casingincluding means providing a chamber ln which said last named thermostatis disposed and said casing having passages for conveying said medium toand from said chamber, said last named thermostat including an innerexpansible andcollapsible corrugated tubular wall connected to said lastnamed valve and an outer expansible and collapsible corrugated tubularwall which is less exible than said inner wall but yieldable when exureof said inner wall is prevented by seating of said valve.

4, In a temperature regulator for controlling the ilow of either acoolingmedium or a heatint medium to a heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing, a valve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said member is adapted-tojcooperate and athermostat subjected to the temperature to be controlled and operativelyconnected to said valve member, said casing having passages leading tothe respective valve ports. a. valve for predetermining whether themedium to be controlled shall iiow through one or the other of saidpassages, a thermostat operatively connected to said last named valve,said casing including means providing a. chamber in which said lastnamed thermostat is disposed and said casing having passages forconveying saidA medium to and from saidv chamber, said last namedthermostat lncluding an inner expansible and collapsible corrugatedtubular wall connected to said last named valve and an outer expansibleand collapsible corrugated tubular wall which is less ilexible than saidinner wall but yleldable when flexure of said inner wall is prevented byseatingor said valve, a member moved by the expansion of said outerwall, an abutment, and a spring for holding said last4 named memberagainst its abutment but yieldabie when said member is moved by theexpansion of said outer wall. Y

5. In a temperature regulator for controlling the llow of either` acooling medium or a heating medium to a heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing, a valve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said member is adapted to cooperate and athermostat subjected to the temperature to be ccntrolled and operativelyconnected to said valve member, said casing having passages leading tothe respective valve ports, a valve for predetermining whether themedium to be controlled shall ilow through one or the other of saidpassages, a thermostat operatively connected to said last named valve,said casing including means providing in which said last namedthermostat is disposed and said casing having'passages for con- `veyingsaid medium to'and from said chamber,

and range adjusting mechanism for said first named thermostat includingan expansible and collapsible chamber in communication therewith, a pairof tubular telescopically arranged members provided with normallycontacting surfaces, a spring reacting between said members and normallyholding said surfaces in engagement whereby said members normally moveas a unit but yieldable to permit relativemovement between said members,a post on one of said members engaging a movable wall of said last namedchamber, and manual means for moving the other of said members to adjustthe volume o! said chamber through the coaction of said post therewith.

6. In a temperature regulator for controlling the iiow of either acooling medium or a heating medium to e, heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing, a valve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said member is adapted to cooperate and athermostat subjected to the temperature to be controlled and operativelyconnected to said valve member by a valve stem, means for normallyurging said valve member toward one of said ports including a springseat carried by said valve stem adjacent said thermostat, a coil springsurrounding said stem and reacting between said spring seat and asurface adjacent one ot said ports, said casing providing passagesleading to the respective valve ports, a valve for predeterminingwhether the medium to be controlled shall ow through one or the other ofsaid passages, a thermostat operatively connected to said last namedvalve, said casing including means providing a chamber in which saidlast named thermostat is disposed, and said casing having passages forconveying the medium to be controlled into and out ofv said chamber onits way to said last named valve.

7. In a temperature regulator for controlling the flow of either acooling medium or a heating medium toa heat exchanger, in combinationwith a casing,ava1ve member therein, means in said casing providing apair of valve ports with which said A through one or the other of saidpassages, a thermostat for controlling said last named valve, a valvestem connecting said valve and last named thermostat, a spring seat onsaid stem adjacent said thermostat, a coil spring surrounding said stemand reacting-between-said spring seat and a surface adjacent said valve,said casing includ- REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the ie of .this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,685 Carrier oct. 3o, 19452,353,889 dieserA July 18, 1944

